Rotating sprinkler



1962 J. M. LANDRY 3,070,315

ROTATING SPRINKLER I Filed April 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 IN VEN TOR.J4 COBUS M. L AND]? Y 1 ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1962 .1. ML LANDRY 3,070,315

ROTATING SPRINKLER Filed April 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.JAOOBUS M. LA/VDRY 3,070,315 ROTATTNG SPRINKLER .lacohus M. Landry, RR.1, Summerland,

British Columbia, Canada Filed Apr. 28, 1961, $81. No. 106,209 11Claims. (Cl. 239-232) An object of this invention is to provide meansfor rotating a sprinkler with intermittent motion and means foraccelerating slow intermittent rotation of the sprinkler into rapidmovement and vice versa at certain positions of the are of rotationduring each revolution of the sprinkler thereby to determineangulardistribution of water in predetermined directions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sprink ler assembly setin intermittent rotation by the inertial forces of a volume of waterwhich latter is intermittently caused to flow and stop in a circularpath or conduit disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the axisof rotation of the sprinkler.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a rotary sprinkler,means to intermittently set in motion and stop Water in a circularconduit in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation ofthe sprinkler, by diverting water under pressure alternately into saidcircular conduit and into another discharge conduit, the discharge fromsaid conduits forming auxiliary nozzles of said sprinkler, so that aprimary sprinkler discharges water near the peripheral portion of thearea sprinkled, and auxiliary nozzles sprinkle the portions nearer thecenter of the area.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotatable primarysprinkler with means to by-pass part of the Water flow from said primarysprinkler to an operating chamher; and providing a circular conduitconnected to one side of said chamber and disposed in a plane generallyperpendicular to the axis of rotation of said sprinkler, and analternate discharge conduit, and means in said chamber operated by thepressure of the by-passed water to alternately direct water to saidcircular conduit and to said alternate discharge conduit so that thealternate stopping of the flow in said circular conduit exerts a turningmoment for intermittently turning said sprinkler; and means enactingwith the water flow from said primary sprinkler for accelerating theturning movement of said sprinkler for a predetermined are of its circleof rotation.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangements andcombinations of the several devices and parts, as Well as in the detailsof the com struction thereof without departing from the scope of thepresent invention as set forth in the following specification, and asdefined in the following claims; hence I do not limit my invention tothe exact arrangements and combinations of the said device and parts asdescribed in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to theexact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings for the illustrative embodiment of the invention,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a. sprinkler constructed in accordance withmy invention.

'16. 2 is a side view of the sprinker. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional viewof the sprinkler the 7 section being taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1,showing the accelerator shield or deflector in accelerating position,and

FIG. 4 is a front view of the sprinkler.

In the illustrative embodiment of my sprinkler assembly, an outer nipple1 is threaded in a usually vertical ice pipe 2. An inner nipple 3 isjournalled in the outer nipple 1. The inner end of the inner nipple 3has thereon a head or flange 4. A packing Washer 6 is held Within thepipe 2 around the inner nipple 3 between the inner end of the outernipple 1 and said head 4, so that the pressure of the water-flow pressesthe washer 6 into tight engagement with the inner end of the outernipple 1.

An elbow 7 is screwed on the top end of the inner nipple 3 so as todetermine the angle of the primary nozzle relative to the axis ofrotation of said pivot or inner nipple 3. The elbow 7 is screwed intothe lower end of a lay-pass chamber S of a rotation regulator 9.

in the upper end of the by-pass chamber 8 is screwed an adapter bushingH. A nozzle conduit 12 is screwed into the top of the adapter bushing11. Into the outer end 13 of the nozzle conduit 12 is screwed a suitablesprinkler nozzle 14, which is the primary sprinkler nozzle of my device.

Into the oppsite aligned ends of the elbow 7 and bushing 11 is secured acylindrical screen 16 spaced from the Walls of said by-pass chamber 8for screening the ay-passed waterflow before the water enters theregulator in the herein illustration, the regulator 9 includes a splitsubstantially flat diaphragm casing, which has a base casing half 17 anda top casing half 18. The casing halves l7 and 18 are dished oppositelyoutwardly to deline a diaphragm chamber 19. The outer periphery of eachcasing half has a flat circular flange 21. A suitable diaphragm 22 hasits outer peripheral portion clinched between the casing flanges 21.Suitable screws 23 secure the casing flanges 21 together.

' The diaphragm 22 divides the diaphragm chamber 19 into a base half andan upper half. A by-pass conduit 24 connects the by-pass chamber 8 tothe upper half of the diaphragm chamber 19 in the top half 18 of thecasing. A side conduit 26 extends from the bypass conduit 24 into thebase half 17 of the diaphragm chamber 19.

In the center of the base half 17 is an outlet nipple 27, the inner endof which is formed into valve seat 28. In the center of the top half 18is a top outlet nipple 29, the inner end of which is formed into a topvalve seat 31. The valve seats 23 and 31 are in axial alignment with oneanother on an axis perpendicular through the center of the diaphragm 22.In the center of the diaphragm 22 is fixed a double valve 32, theopposite valve heads of which are adapted to be seated alternately inthe respective valve seats 28 and 31 according to the direction offlexing of the diaphragm 22.

A cup 33 is secured on each side of the diaphragm 22. Each cup 33 iscentered about the axis of the double valve 32 and is so positioned thatthe concave dished face of each cup 33 faces toward'the adjacent valveseat 28 or 31 respectively. The function of these cups 33 is to resistthe flexing of the center portion of the diaphragm 22. The cups 33 onthe opposite sides of the diaphragm 22 are back to back. As the pressureis unbalanced, as

ereinafter described, so as to flex the diaphragm in one direction, thenthe diaphragm assumes the respective dotted line bulging position shownin FIG. 3, because of the comparative stiffness of the middle portion ofthe diaphragm 22. Then the middle portion of the diaphragm is snapped sothat the adjacent valve is set tightly on the respective valve seat 28or 31. The cups 33 also prevent sharp bend of the diaphragm and preventexeessive tilting of the double valve 32.

The center plane of the casing and the diaphragm 22 are at right anglesto the axis of rotation of the inner nipple 3,'whieh is the 'axis aboutwhich the primary nozzle 14 rotates. The axis of the valve seats 28 and31 is generally parallel withsaid axis of rotation and is offset fromsaid axis of rotation diametrically oppositely to the primary nozzle 14,so as to distribute the rotatable weight evenly about the rotation axis.

A right angle elbow 36 is screwed on the outer end of the upper outletnipple 29. A spiral circular conduit 37 has its central end suitablysecured to the elbow 36. The outer end of the circular conduit 37terminates in a discharge end 38 tangential to the circle of the conduit37 and generally at right angles to the diametrical plane extendingthrough said axis of rotation and through said valve axis and the axisof said primary nozzle. Thus said discharge end 38 is substantially atright angles to said primary nozzle 14 and projects clockwise, viewingFIG. 1, in the direction of rotation of said primary nozzle 14 aboutsaid rotation axis of said inner nipple 3. A right angle elbow 39 onsaid discharge end 38 holds an auxiliary nozzle 41 discharging parallelwith said primary nozzle 14.

A second auxiliary discharge conduit 42' is connected by a right angleelbow 43 to the lower outlet nipple 27 so that the right angle elbow 43discharges diametrically oppositely to the upper right angle elbow 36.The secnd discharge conduit 42 is curved directly to a discharge end 44parallel with the auxiliary nozzle 41 and has a second auxiliary nozzle46 secured in its end so located that said first auxiliary nozzle 41 isoffset between said second auxiliary nozzle 46 and said primary nozzle14, all three nozzles discharging in parallel directions. A bracket 47holds the second auxiliary discharge end 44 on the lower casing half 17.Suitable clips 48 hold the circular conduit 37 on the top casing half18.

The body 49 of the bypass chamber 8 is integral with the lower casinghalf 17 and supports the regulator 9 in fixed position relatively to theprimary nozzle 14.

The accelerating device includes a deflecting hood 51, which issupported on spaced arms 52 pivoted on pivot screws 53. The pivot screws53 are screwed into and through opposite sides of a sleeve 54 so as toalso function as set screws to hold the sleeve 54 in position on thenozzle conduit 12. A stirrup 56 has its legs secured to said arms 52 andis also pivoted on the pivot screws 53, but said stirrup 56 extends atangle to said arms so that a cam follower finger 57 thereof has itscurved edge 58 in contact with the periphery of a horizontal cam 59. Thehub 61 of the cam 59 is secured on the reduced end 62 of the outernipple 1 by a suitable set screw 63. Thus the cam 59 is in a plane atright angles to the axis of rotation of the sprinkler assembly. As shownin broken lines in FIG. 1, the cam 59 is circular around about twothirds of its circumference and is then flattened on angular lines onthe remaining third of its circumference. The angle of the stirrup 56relatively to the arms 51 is such that when its follower finger 57follows the circular part of the cam 59 it raises the deflector hoodabove the nozzle 14 into an out of the way position, as shown in FIG. 2,but when the finger 57 reaches the flattened third of the cam 59, itlowers the deflector hood 51 in the path of the jet of water issuingfrom the primary nozzle 14 and converts the force of the water jet intorapid turning force for rapidly turning the nozzle 14 over said onethird path of its rotation until the finger 57 again returns to thecircular two thirds of the cam 59.

The deflecting hood 51 is a concave shield, with an open side 64 on thetrailing side of the hood with respect to the direction of rotation ofthe sprinkler assembly. The tapered leading side 66 of the hood isclosed. Thus the jet of water from the nozzle 14, in the position shownin FIG. 3, is deflected in the direction of the open side 64, generallyin a contra-clockwise direction viewing FIG. 1., and the reaction forcethereof exerts a turning moment on the sprinkler for accelerating therotation of said sprinkler.

In operation as the water is discharged through the primary nozzle 14,with the hood 51 in the out of way position, shown in FIG. 2, some ofthe water is bypassed through the by-pass chamber 8 and through theby-pass conduits 24 and 26 into the diaphragm chamber 19 and to bothsides of the diaphragm 22.

On account of the flexibility of the diaphragm, the valve 32 fixed onthe central part of the diaphragm, can move relatively to the part ofthe diaphragm between the center and the periphery. As the distance thatvalve can travel between the two valve seats 28 and 31 is relativelyshort, the val"e 22 cannot remain in stable equilibrium between the twovalve seats, as any slight motion of the valve toward one valve seat,restricts the aperture and so reduces the pressure on the part of thevalve in close proximity of the valve seat, which further pushes thevalve toward the seat, until the valve closes the aperture.

Thus the valve 32 necessarily closes one or the other outlet from thechamber 19. When one outlet is thus closed, the water ceases flowing inthe corresponding conduit to the corresponding nozzle and the pressurein the conduit becomes the atmospheric pressure. The valve is thenmaintained against the seat. The force maintaining the valve against theseat is the internal pressure in the chamber 19, exerted on a surfaceequal to the section of the valve seat aperture, the size of the surfaceof the valve on which only atmospheric pressure is exerted.

While one outlet is thus closed, the water entering on the correspondingside of the diaphragm, into the chamber 19 and having no outlet there,flexes the diaphragm 22 toward the other side, where the water is underlower pressure, being in a flow with a downward pressure gradient fromthe diversion chamber 8 to an auxiliary nozzle. This flexing of thediaphragm produces a tension in it and consequently, the pressuredifferential increases. A comparatively small pressure differential onthe two sides of the diaphragm, exerted as it is on a much largersurface than the section of the aperture of the valve mentioned above,is suflicient to overcome the force maintaining the valve against theother seat.

The same sequence of motions of the diaphragm and of the valve is thenrepeated, but in an opposite direction and repeated again indefinitelyin alternately opposite directions as long as an adequate water supplyto the sprinkler is maintained. This automatic cycle of operation of theregulator 9 is then repeated intermittently. The time lag between theportions of the diaphragm toward the side of the open valve seat and theincrease "of the tension to a force to snap the valve from the closedseat to the open seat, predetermines the time interval between thealternate diversions of the flow of water, to the nozzle 41 through theoutlet nipple 27 and the conduit 37 and to the nozzle 46 through theoutlet nipple 29 and the conduit 42.

One such cycle of the operation of the sprinkler can be divided intofour phases: (all references to clockwise and counterclockwise are asviewing FIG.1).

During one phase, the downward directed tension of the diaphragm 22opens the valve seat 31 and closes the aperture of the valve seat 28.During this phase the flow of water to the nozzle 41, through theconduit 37 is accelerated by the pressure force of the water until thereactive force of the stream, at the nozzle, increasingly compensatingthe pressure force there, the flow becomes constant. Simultaneously, thewater flowing to the nozzle 46, during the preceding cycle, is stopped.

During a second phase, the valve seat 31 remains open, the flow to thenozzle 41 remains constant and the water to the nozzle 46 in the conduit42 remains stationary.

During a third phase, the tension of the diaphragm opens the aperture ofthe valve seat 28 and closes the aperture of the valve seat 31. Duringthis phase the flow of water to the nozzle 41 is stopped.Simultaneously, the flow to the nozzle 46 is accelerated until thereactive force at the nozzle balances the internal pressure force andthe flow becomes constant.

During a fourth phase, the aperture of the valve seat 31 remains closed,the water in the conduit 42 to the nozzle 4-1 remains stationary and theflow to the nozzle 46 remains constant.

The intermittent rotation of the assembly depends on the magnitude andthe direction of the moment tending to turn the assembly about its axis,during the phases of each cycle.

During the second and fourth phases, when the flow is constant, theforces exerted internally on the assembly cancel out and the moment isdue only to the reactive force of the stream issuing from either offsetnozzle and is clockwise in direction. It is not suflicient to overcomethe static friction of the washer 6.

During the first and third phases, the flow of water being principallyclockwise to the nozzle 41 and principally counterclockwise to thenozzle 46, but being accelerated in one conduit when it stops in theother, the inertia of the water in both conduits acts in the samedirection at any one time, namely counterclockwise during the firstphase and clockwise during the third phase. The duration of these phasesis very short. The moment tending to turn the assembly and due to theseinertial forces is more than sufficient to overcome the static frictionof the washer 6 and .so to impart a certain momentum to the assembly.

During the first phase, however, the moment is reversed. At thebeginning it is counterclockwise, being due to the forces acceleratingthe flow to the nozzle 41 and stopping the flow to the nozzle 46, and atthe end of the phase it is due to the reactive force at the nozzle 41and is clockwise. There is then a braking action on any momentumacquired by the assembly during this phase and consequently thecounterclockwise angular motion of the assembly can only be of smallamplitude.

During the third phase, the turning moment is com pounded of theinertial and the reactive forces all clockwise, there is no brakingaction on the momentum of the assembly and the amplitude of itsclockwise angular motion is greater than that of the precedingcounterclockwise motion.

It is the difference in amplitude between the clockwise and thecounterclockwise motions which results in the intermittent clockwiserotation of the sprinkler.

The frictional resistance of the washer 6 must remain sufficient toprevent spinning of the assembly by the reactive force of the flow, atone or the other auxiliary nozzle, regardless of the fluctuations of thepressure that can occur in sprinkler systems. Keeping in mind that thereactive force of the flow at the auxiliary nozzle (the pressure forcethere) and the pressure on the washer 6, both vary as the square of thevelocity of the flow, it will be seen that this condition is satisfiedfor the range of pressure above that necessary to lift the weight of therotatable assembly and to press tightly the washer 6 between the end ofthe outer nipple 1 and the flange 4 of the inner nipple 3.

The conditions effecting the control of the spin of the assembly are: anappropriate amount of offset for the auxiliary nozzles, in relation tothe diameter of the washer 6 and the choice of a material with anappropriate coefficient of friction for the washer.

As the sprinkler assembly is thus turned intermittently around thetwo-thirds circular part of the cam 59, the deflector hood 51 is in theout of the way position shown in FIG. 2. When the sprinkler assembly isrotated to where the follower finger reaches the beginning of theflattened cam portion, the deflector 51 is lowered in front of theprimary nozzle 14, as shown in FIG. 3, and the reactive force of thewater jet on the hood 51 and on the sprinkler assembly, accelerates therotation and spins the sprinkler assembly around the remaining one-thirdof its circular rotation rapidly. Thereafter the intermittent rotationis again resumed as heretofore described.

The device herein is simple; it has minimum moving parts; it operatespositively in a predetermined manna and is eminently adapted for uniformorchard irrigz tion, so as to sprinkle the proper volume of water oncircular area. The main nozzle 14 sprinkles the are near the peripheryof the sprinkled area and the auxiliar nozzles sprinkle the areas nearerthe sprinkler. The on third area overlapped by the next sprinkler in aseries c sprinklers is skipped by reason of said acceleration accomplished through said cam.

1 claim:

1. in a sprinkler device the combination with a mai: nozzle on a mainnozzle conduit extended at an angle fron and journalled in a watersupply conduit; of an inter mittent rotating device comprising a casingsupported 0: said main nozzle conduit, a pair of chambers in said casing, by-pass means to conduit water flow from said mai1 nozzle conduitto said chambers, an outlet from eacl chamber, a valve for each outlet,an auxiliary nozzl conduit leading from each chamber, an auxiliary nozzlon each auxiliary nozzle conduit, means to alternatel close and opensaid valves so that said chamber out lets are opened sequentially, saidauxiliary nozzle con duits being offset relatively to the journal axisof sait main nozzle conduit so that turning moment about th' journalaxis of the main nozzle conduit exerted by wate flowing through saidchambers and said nozzle conduit are balanced by the inertia and theresistance of the jour nalled sprinkler unit and said balance ismomentarilj upset by each stoppage of flow in one of said auxiliarnozzles so as to turn said main nozzle conduit about sait journal axisintermittently in accordance with said se quential and alternate closingof said valves.

2. The sprinkling device defined in claim 1, wherein saii one auxiliarynozzle conduit is formed generally in th shape of an involute of acylinder centered about tht outlet of said one auxiliary conduit, saidauxiliary nozzle being extended parallel with said main nozzle andoffset lit one side with respect to said journal axis and the auxiliarnozzle on said one auxiliary nozzle conduit being betweei the mainnozzle and the other auxiliary nozzle.

3. A sprinkler device comprising a journal adapted it be secured in theend of a supply conduit, a nozzle sup port element rotatably held insaid journal, a main nozzlr conduit extended from and at an angle to theaxis of rota tion of said support element, a main nozzle on said mailnozzle conduit, a rotating device interconnected in sair main nozzleconduit for imparting intermittent rotating movement to said main nozzleconduit and to said sup port element about the axis of said journal,said rotating device including a pair of chambers, means to by-pas flowof water from said nozzle conduit to each chamber said chambers beingmounted on said nozzle conduit, a1 outlet for outflow of water from eachchamber, a1 auxiliary nozzle conduit connected to each outlet, a1auxiliary nozzle on each conduit, and means actuated b1 the water in therespective chambers to alternately ant sequentially close the respectiveoutlets, the frictional re sistance at said journal, the inertia of thedevice, and tht kinetic energy of the water flow in said conduit beinbalanced so as to normally overcome turning moment on said rotatingdevice, and being momentarily un balanced by each stoppage of flow inone of said auxiliar nozzle conduits.

4. The sprinkler device defined in claim 3 wherein sai one secondarynozzle conduit being longer than the othe secondary nozzle conduit andbeing curved in the shapl of an involute of a cylinder about an axisoffset relativel to the axis of said journal and the auxiliary nozzle 01said one auxiliary conduit being nearer said journal axi than the otherauxiliary nozzle.

5. In a sprinkler device, a journal adapted to be secure in the end of asupply conduit, a main nozzle condui extended from said journal at anangle to the axis of sai journal, a main nozzle on said main conduit,means t apply intermittent turning movement to said main nozzll :onduit,including a bypass interconnected in said main lozzle conduit, a casingextended from said by-pass, a lexible partition dividing the casing intwo chambers, said )Y-PHSS discharging into both chambers, an outletfrom :ach chamber, valves on the opposite sides of said flexblepartition for closing the respective outlets, said fiexble partitionnormally holding said valves spaced from he respective outlets andmoving the valves alternately n outlet closing position when flexed bythe differential )ICSSUIC in said chambers caused by the closing of one:hamber while the outlet of the other chamber is open, in auxiliarynozzle conduit extended from each chamber )utlet, an auxiliary nozzle oneach auxiliary nozzle conluit, one of said auxiliary nozzle conduitsbeing generally tpiral circular in a plane at right angles to the axisof otation of said journal whereby the reaction of each atoppage of flowin said one nozzle conduit momentarily )verbalances the balance offorces about said journal axis and imparts a brief turning motion tosaid nozzle device.

6. The sprinkler device defined in claim 3, said outlet :losing meanscomprising a valve seat on each outlet facing said partition, said valveseats being aligned axially an an axis at right angles through thecenter of said flex- Ible partition, a concave stiffener element on eachside 3f said partition around each valve, the concave side of :achelement facing toward the respective adjacent valve seat so as tostifien the said middle portion of said parti- :ion, prevent the tiltingof said valve means and to narrow the space between the cup and theclosed valve seat thereby to aid in reducing pressure on the oppositeside of said partition at the open valve seat and correspondingly toincrease the pressure on the side of the partition adjacent said closedvalve seat.

7. The sprinkler device defined in claim 5, a hollow bearing element onthe supply conduit, said journal being rotatable and axially slidable insaid bearing element, means to limit the axial sliding of said journal,and sealing means between said limiting means in said supply conduit andsaid bearing element being pressed by water pressure in said conduitinto frictional engagement with said bearing element.

8. In a sprinkler device, a main nozzle journalled on a supply conduit,and auxiliary nozzle means actuated by water flow from said conduit tointermittently turn said main nozzle, and being turnable with said mainnozzle; means to impart constant accelerated turning to said main nozzleover a part of its rotation, comprising, a cam on said supply conduithaving a circular cam portion concentric with the axis of rotation ofsaid main nozzle and flattened non-circular eccentric portion; adeflecting hood pivotally supported on said main nozzle so as to beswingable into the path of flow from said main nozzle and being capableof converting the force of said water flow from the main nozzle intoturning moment about said axis of rotation, and a follower arm extendedfrom said deflecting hood so as to bear against said cam, the angle ofsaid follower arm with respect to said hood being such as to hold saiddeflector hood in an out of the way position relatively to said mainnozzle when following said concentric circular portion of said cam andto move said hood into the path of the flow from the nozzle whenfollowing said eccentric portion of said cam thereby to eccelerate theconstant turning of said main nozzle over the arc of its rotationcorresponding to said eccentric portion of said cam.

9. In a rotary sprinkler device, a main nozzle conduit adapted to berotatably held on a water supply conduit, a main nozzle on said nozzleconduit, discharging at an angle to the axis of rotation of the nozzleconduit; means to impart intermittent rotating force to said main nozzleconduit including, means to bypass water flow from said nozzle conduit,a pair of opposite spaced auxiliary nozzle conduits, means to supportsaid auxiliary conduits fixedly with respect to said main conduit and ingenerally parallel planes at an angle to said axis of rotation, anauxiliary nozzle on each of said auxiliary conduits olfset relatively tosaid main nozzle, means to direct said by-passed water alternately tosaid auxiliary conduits, said auxiliary conduits being offset relativelyto said axis of rotation so as to convert the inertia of alternatingwater flow and stoppage of flow through said auxiliary conduits intoturning moment about said axis of rotation.

10. The rotary sprinkler device defined in claim 9, wherein at least oneof said auxiliary conduits includes a circular portion in said parallelplane.

11. The rotary sprinkler device defined in claim 9, wherein at least oneof said auxiliary conduits includes a circular portion in said parallelplane, said auxiliary nozzles are offset so as to discharge watergenerally in the same direction as the discharge from said main nozzleand so as to coact with said inertia action in said auxiliary conduitsabout said axis of rotation for said intermittent turning.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,308,371 Roach July 1, 1919 1,640,751 Buelna Aug. 30, 1927 1,832,205Harris Nov. 17, 1931 1,876,099 Thompson Sept. 6, 1932 2,288,394 Coies etal. June 30, 1942 2,654,635 Lazzarini Dec. 6, 1953 2,942,789 Smith June28, 1960

